Btw: Software, turnkey, beheerd, as a service - Bert Hubert's writings
a day ago
- The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration plans to outsource VAT processing to an American company, raising concerns about control and national sovereignty.
- On March 19, a parliamentary committee meeting will discuss this plan, with hopes for reconsideration of the decision.
- The debate has shifted from using American software to full management by Americans, including servers, as 'VAT-as-a-service'.
- Systems for critical tasks range from self-programming (level 0) to total outsourcing (level 5), each with different levels of control and dependency.
- Self-programming offers maximum understanding and flexibility but requires significant investment and responsibility.
- Purchasing software with self-installation provides some independence but still requires expertise and risks from vendor changes.
- Turnkey solutions with integration reduce understanding and increase dependency on the vendor for operation and modifications.
- Managed services (level 4) involve turnkey delivery with ongoing maintenance, leaving the client unable to take over operations and fully dependent on the vendor.
- Fully 'as a service' (level 5) runs software at the vendor's site, ceasing immediately if service stops, as seen with Microsoft 365 in many government agencies.
- The VAT solution proposed for the Tax and Customs Administration aligns with level 4 or 5, risking loss of control over €80 billion in annual revenue to American control.